Embedded DRAM in Nano-scale Technologies

Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is a type of random access memory that uses charge stored on individual capacitors to hold data within an integrated circuit. Since these capacitors are non-ideal and suffer from parasitic leakages, the information eventually fades and the charge stored requires periodic refresh. Because of this refresh requirement, this memory type is classified as dynamic, in contrast to static random access memory (Fig. 5.1a) where a cross-coupled pair maintains the data state.